Introducing Air Nannies – heroes who fly pets home

While most drivers on the CitizenShipper website transport pets by car, a rising number of flight crew personnel and regular fliers are bidding on long-distance pet delivery jobs. These Air Nannies, as they like to call themselves, are making good money by flying pets to their destinations.

If an opportunity to earn an extra $12,000 per month sounds too good to be true, you haven’t heard about how lucrative puppy nanny jobs can be. If you enjoy flying and spending time with animals, read on to learn about our community of Air Nannies.

What is it that Air Nannies actually do?

Every day, thousands of people welcome a new member of their family – often a puppy or a kitten. But breeders can be separated from buyers by hundreds or thousands of miles. They need reliable transporters able to fly the pet out to their new home quickly and safely.

As an Air Nanny, your job is to meet the breeder at an airport and take charge of the pet they’re looking to transport. You fly the furball over, right next to you in the cabin. The new owners welcome you at the Arrivals terminal, and you make the delivery. Simple enough, right?

But keep in mind that becoming a flight nanny for pets isn’t just a tremendous source of supplemental income. It’s also a huge responsibility, best handled by genuine animal lovers. Each animal you fly over is someone’s precious pet, a living thing with its own needs and wants.

Working as a flight nanny is unlike any other job in transport – it’s not about moving crates. It’s about providing safety, speed, reliability, connecting to the animals and their owners on a human level. And that, of course, is why it pays so well!

Airline fees vs. Air Nanny fees

When it comes to families buying pets from faraway breeders, money is rarely the main concern. All they want is their new family member delivered to them safe and sound. That’s why many are paying $350 for short pet nanny flights, or $1,300 for longer ones.

These fees vary, of course. An established puppy nanny delivery service can charge a lot more than someone who’s just starting out. But the thing is, successful Air Nannies have ways of keeping expenses low! Some airlines offer special discounts to frequent fliers. Some waive pet shipping fees for flight attendants and other staff. If you can work out a deal that minimizes the cost, you’ll yield tremendous benefits in the long run.

Some flight nannies are employed by the puppy breeders, while others work independently. Either way, there’s a lot of money to be made. If you don’t cut in too many third parties, you get to keep a larger portion of it. And we know that staying independent is often difficult for a new puppy nanny service, but there are ways to pull it off. For example…

Air Nannies and CitizenShipper

By now, you’re probably curious about starting your own puppy flight nanny service. You might be wondering where those well-paying customers come in? Well, if you’re not hired by a breeder who’s already got them lined up, you’ll have to find customers yourself. The easiest way to do it is by browsing through an online marketplace.

At CitizenShipper, for example, new pet transportation jobs are posted daily. You get to pick the ones you’re interested in and the hours you work. This way, you can hold down your regular job while picking up supplemental work as an Air Nanny.

Cats and dogs are extremely popular on our platform – the demand keeps growing. While most customers are looking for ground-based transportation since air travel is costly, it’s up to you to change that.
Bidding on long-distance pet shipments, you can get in touch with potential customers and explain how things stand. Let them know that flying is faster and less stressful for animals. Tell them about the great deal that you can offer. Tell them how much you enjoy flying with and caring after animals.

Signing up as an Air Nanny is simple and free of charge. If you think that a puppy nanny transport job might be right for you, give it a shot. In a matter of minutes, you’ll be bidding on shipments and chatting with customers.

FAQ: shipper responsibilities

We get a lot of questions about puppy nanny shipping services. Here are some of the answers we provide, and a few things you should make sure your customer understands.

• Pets flying on planes must be able to qualify as carry-on luggage. Most Air Nannies transport cats, young puppies, or small dogs (15-20 lbs).
• By law, puppies must be at least 8 weeks old to fly. Some airlines increase this age requirement to 16 weeks.
• Each animal must have a certificate of health issued by a licensed veterinerian. Also, all vaccination certificates must be up to date.
• As per airline regulations, pet documentation might also be required.
• Pet food must be supplied by the owner for the duration of the trip.
• Pet bedding and potty pads must be provided, although carrier crates are typically the flight nanny’s responsibility.
• The pet must be socialized and leash-trained to a reasonable degree.
• If an Air Nanny needs to fly over multiple pets, asking a friend or family member to tag along is common practice.
• The cost of transport is negotiated by the Air Nanny and the customer in advance. It’s typically based on the distance traveled, which is to say the number of hours flown. It often includes airfares and cabin fees, though different arrangements are sometimes made.

Finally, here’s a quote from one of the Air Nannies using the CitizenShipper platform. To all those looking to make supplemental income as a flight nanny, she advises the following:

“Be prepared with toys, small amounts of food and water, calming treats or sprays, and a positive attitude. Not all dogs or cats are familiar with air travel, so you have to have patience and be able to relax them if they are feeling uneasy.”

Interested in becoming an Air Nanny?

If you love flying and taking care of animals, give pet nanny shipping a try. Sign up as a transporter today, and take advantage of all that the CitizenShipper marketplace has to offer.

We have articles that take you through the platform step by step, explaining how to create a profile and market your puppy flight nanny service. Learn from shared experiences in our community of per transporters. And if you ever run into trouble, help is just a click away!

Updated October 25, 2021